Dental device



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,687,079 H. E. BARKER DENTAL DEVICE Filed ngc. 2. 1927 Patented ct. 9, 1928.

UNITED STATES HORACE E. BAKKER, OF BROOLYN, NEW YORK.

DENTAL DEVICE.

Application led December 2, 1927. Serial No. 237,148.

This invention relates to dental devices, and particularly to an improvement 1n the teeth-cleaning and gum-massaging device forming the subject of my Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,661,713, dated March 6, 1928, which device, briefly described, comprises a tubular body of soft resilient material divided longitudinally through one side thereof and serrated along its meeting edges to form two opposing'A series of arcuate rubbing members -which are normally held in contracted position by the inherent elasticity of the body, said body having a longitudinally perforated back o-rtion adapted to receive one end of a suita le handle.

rfhe primary object'of my present invention is to provide a handle of such construction that by variably turning the same within the perforated back portion the serrated walls of the body are separated or contracted to a greater or less extent against the elasticity of the body so as to facilitate the application of the device to the teeth and gums to be treated, and also to vary or adjust the amount of lateral pressure exerted by the rubbing members upon the opposing surfaces. y

Another object is to provide simple and eicient means whereby a bristle brush head can be readil mounted in or removed from the body, as esired.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the combination with the 'serrated body of Vthe device and its perforated back portion, of a handle of novel construction, and

also in' the provision of means wherebyl a/ wit 1n the body above its serrated rubbing members, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

fn the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of a dental device embodying my invention, the handle being formed and positioned to increase the' closed or gripping relation of the rubbing members.

Fig. 2 is an end view` of the construction shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the device as in use, showing the handle as ositioned to spread the rubbing membersl s ightly apart and reduce their normal pressure on the gums.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a brush head for use in connection with the device.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the device with the brush-head mounted therein.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a brush head can be detachably clamped tubular body of yielding material, such as soft resilient rubber, which is split or divided longitudinally through one side thereof and serrated along its meeting edges to form two opposing series of tapering arcuate rubbing members, 6, of general saw-tooth form which are normally held in closed or gripping relation by the inherent elasticity of the body.

These members possess ample firmness to permit and effect the application of dentifrice or other preparation with proper friction to the labial and lingual surfaces of the teeth, but have suficient flexibility to avoid liability of injury to the soft gum tissues.

The back of the tubular body is formed with a longitudinally perforated projection 9 for the reception of a handle l0 by means of which the device can be manipulated -similarly to an ordinary tooth brush.

Accordlng to my present invention the perforation 11 in the projection 9, and the insertable end or tang portion, 12, of the handle, are of such relative cross-sectional'formation and proportions that by forcibly turning the tang to various diametrical positions in the perforation, the projection is forcibly distorted in a manner to effect either a lateral spreading or a closing of the serrated walls,

vthus facilitating the application of the device to the teeth and gums when the walls are spread, and also enabling the amount of pressure exerted by the rubbing members upon the opposing surfaces to be varied or adjusted. In the present instance, the perforation 1l is circular in cross-section and the tang 12 is relatively thin and flat with rounded parallel edges 13 and o f greater width than the diameter of the perforation. Hence when the tang is forced into the perforation the walls of the projection are eX- panded and an inner or outward lateral motion, depending upon the relative position of the tan inthe perforation, is transmitted through t e integral elastic material to the walls of the body' that is to say, when the tang is moved to a horizontal position as seen in Fig. 2, the walls of the projection are horizontally expanded in opposite directions against the inherent elasticity of the material, (as indicated by the arrows a) thereby pulling up the top of the body, (as indicated by the arrow b) and effecting the movement of the serrated walls toward each other (as indicated by the arrows c) in a manner to increase their inward or gripping pressure; and when the tang is moved to the vertical position shown in Fig. 3, the walls of the projection are vertically expanded, thereby reversing the e'ects just described and causing the partial spreading 0r opening of the serrated walls inl manner to facilitate the application of the device to the teeth or gums and at the same time reduce theinward pressure of the rubbing members on the teeth or gums under treatment. By varying the anvgularity of the tang between the horizontal inwardly projecting studs or ledges 15 upon.

which the back of the brush is supported, as seen in Fig. 5.

1. A dental device comprising a tubular body ofsoft resilient material divided longitudinally through one side thereof and serrated along its meeting edges to form t-Wo opposing series of arcuate rubbing members which are normally held in contracted posi# tion by the inherent elasticity of the body,"

said body having a longitudinally perforated back portion, and a handle having a portion adapted to be forcibly inserted in the perforation of the back portion, the relative crosssectional form and proportions of s aid handle portion and the perforation bemg such tudinally through one side thereof and Serlratedalong its meeting edges to form two opposing series of arcuate rubbing members which are normally'held in contracted position by the inherent elasticity of said body, and brush bristles supported within sald body in the space above the rubbing members.

3. A dental device comprising a tubular body of soft resilient material divided longitudinally through'one side thereof and serrated along its meeting edges to form two opposing series of arcuate rubbing members which are normally held in contracted position by the inherent elasticity of said body, and a' brush head clamped by and between the walls of said body inthe space above the rubbing members.

4. A dental device comprising atubular body of soft resilient material divided longitudinally through one side thereof and serrated along its meeting edges'to formtwo opposing series ofarcuate rubbing' members which are normally held in contracted posltion by the inherent elasticity of said body,`

the innerv lateral surfaces of said body having inward projections above the rubbing members, and a brush head including a back l supported' onesaid projections and clamped by and between t-he walls of said body.

Signed at New York in the coulilny and State of New York this 29th day of ovember A. D. 1927.

. HORACE E. BARKER.` 

